Revealing mistake: In the scene where Bond is trapped in Largo's shark-infested pool, he uses his mini air tank to breathe. In most of the subsequent shots, look closely at the actor's face - it looks a lot more like a stuntman than Sean Connery. (01:20:20)
Thunderball (1965)
1 review
Directed by: Terence Young
Starring: Sean Connery, Desmond Llewelyn, Bernard Lee, Lois Maxwell, Adolfo Celi, Luciana Paluzzi, Claudine Auger, Rik Van Nutter
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(6 votes)
I watched this movie on Amazon Prime.
So... I had seen some of the older Bond movies, including this one, a long long time ago. Like about 20 years ago, renting them from the Library as a kid. Most of them I hardly remembered but I wanted to finally start my journey of going back and watching all the old Bond movies again. Some a long over due re watch, others seeing for the first time.
I want to like this movie more... I really do. But this is honestly a prime example of how I feel about most of the older, Pre-Brosnan Bond movies. It's just kinda boring. I watched this movie... yet I struggle to really remember it well even a day or two later.
it's slow, meh... and the underwater fight stuff is dull and just a gratuitous way of them trying to show off their new technology at that time.
I know this movie is as a big downgrade in many ways coming off the heels of Bond fan darling, Goldfinger... and yeah well it is a downgrade, I do say that I felt similar about that movie. I know it's an unpopular opinion but I'm really meh on Goldfinger also.
From Russia With Love was a great old Bond film but I struggle to get into any of them after that much.
This one, I give 3 out of 5 stars cause it's... just OK.
I don't dislike or hate it, but I don't really feel any desire to go back and watch this one again. Unlike the Brosnan Bond movies I watched over and over on VHS when I was younger, I can still pop those in any time and love them. Thunderball for me is more just... a kind a soft rumbleball.
Mistake Status: No plans to do the Bond movies except the Brosnan era. At least for the foreseeable future.
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Trivia: When Bond and the guard fall into the pool and the shutters close over them, Largo gets the gate opened to allow sharks into the pool. When they were shooting this, there was supposed to be a sheet of glass in the water with the sharks on one side, and Sean on the other. Unfortunately, a couple of the sharks got round it, and when Sean opens the door to go through to the other pool, he's nose to nose. At this point, he's not acting. Watch his face for the genuine look of horror.
Question: As I watched the end scene I wondered: how do James and Domino intend to return to terra firma? They were whisked out of the boat by the plane and are hanging on the end of a long cord so the plane can't land without them being dragged at high speed along the concrete.
Answer: A helicopter could lower a line to them to attach themselves to. They could then cut the rope and be lowered to safety. A bit outlandish, but this is Bond we are talking about after all.
Answer: Look up Skyhook online and you'll find out how it was done. The person hanging from the cable would be pulled aboard by the plane's crew.